SOME ASPECTS
MODERN SOCIALISM.
BY
A. A. DENISON.
“Socialism is a moral reform.”—Johnson's Encyclopedia.
" A Socialist is one who looks to society organized in the State for bringing about a more perfect
distribution of economic goods and the elevation of humanity.”—Prof. Richard T. Ely.
Socialism is already a fact to be reckoned with, not a theory to be discussed.”—Marshall's
Principles of Economics.
A Paper read before the Oakland Nationalist Club April 3, 1891.
Published by Request.
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ENQUIRER PUBLISHING HOUSE,
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MODERN SOCIALISM. | lected for his wisdom or his prowess in
arms-was made chief.
If we could imagine the first human be-
This paper, presented before the Political ing sta" ding alone like some primeval
| Crusoe upon the shore of time, surveying
Science Section of the Starr-King Fraternity,
the universe, he might exclaim, "I am
subsequently revised and read at a meeting monarch of all I survey and my right there
of the Oakland Nationalist Club and pub is none to dispute.” But the moment that
lished by request of members of both these
a second man or a woman appears upon
the scene that right is challenged, a part
organizations, is reprinted from the Oak-
of that supremacy must be surrendered,
land ENQUIRER of April 18, 1891.
and an obligation is imposed by human so-
ciety. Mankind has been a long time in
recognizing the restrictions which the social
From the time when our first parents
state in poses upon the individual. With
were dispossessed of Paradise and it was the advance of civilization the points of
decreed that in the sweat of his brow man contact of man with man have become
sbould earn his bread, philosophers have i more intimate. From the tribal relation.
speculated upon ideal states and dreamers springing out of the family or clan, to an
have dreamed of fair Utopias. Seers and alliance for protection or conquest, from
poets have caught inspired visions of realms the government of force to the state organ-
where perfect law and love shall reign and
man be restored to his lost estate, "Some been long stages in human experience.
sanguine spirits still hope to see these lofty
Government has gradually becorue more
ideals realized in a regenerated earth, and
complex and highly organized-as new
point out that the surging tide of events
forms have succeeded discarded systems
ever moves forward and that however dis- and the earlier types have been modified or
couraging the present may be the future is
have disappeared.
fraught with promise for humanity. .
Sometimes the pages of history have been
Whether we regard human society as di- illumined by the stories of states in which
vinely instituted under ideal conditions government seemed to have been developed
and degenerated by man's disobedience of to its highest good, but like fruit ripened
law, or evolved by a slow process, through
through before its season there was rottenness at
911ccessive stages, from the savage tribal re- the core and they have gone out in the
Tation to the organized government, it is an darkness of succeeding ages. Such were the
interesting and profitable subject for our
earlier republics of Greece, and Rome in
investigation.
the days of her vigor before wealth, luxury
Thomas Carlyle said, "study history, for
and vice had destroyed the yirtue of her
it is philosophy teaching by example." But citizens and broughton the era of her decline
closer still to us is the science of sociology, let us compare two periods in the his-
underlying history and dealing with the tory of Rome. The first is that elder dav:
human forces which modify society. His-
“When none were for party,
When all were for the state,
tory in the past has been made up largely
When the great man helped the poor,
of the chronicles of the kings, Sociology
And the poor man loved the great;
comes down to the history which the peo When lands were fairly portioned,
ple are making each day, and in which
When spoils were fairly sold,
every one of us has a part. In the study
For the Romans were like brothers
of sociology, however, we must take into
In the brave days of old.”.
consideration the fact that the evolution of
Contrast with this the picture of the de.
| generate days when rights of the people
forms of government is conditioned by the
had been trampled and the wicked ten
ever changing status of human intelligence
or so called public sentiment. This is par-
bare swav,'' as drawn by Macaulay in his
ticuiarly so in a republic where there is no
I poem of Virginia.” When addressing the
deference for that “divinity which doth
patricians the plebeians exclaim:
hedge a king” and where the government
Exult, ye proud patricians, the hard fought
fight is o'er;
is popularly regarded as a mere institution
We strove for honor-twas in vain; for free-
of utility for conserving the public welfare, dom--'tis no more."
the prevailing principle, the crystalization Then recounting how “their foul usance
of public opinion upon certain theories as bad eat away the substance of the poor"
embodied in the dominant party...
and their lust and avarice knew no bounds,
Among primitiva man the principles of the commons call a halt with these desper-
isolation and of individual will might per-ate words:
haps obtain, but even in the brute creation "Spare us the inexpiable wrong, the unutter-
there is a tendency to association, and the able shame
beasts of the field gather themselves to. That turns the coward's heart to steel, the slug-
gether in flocks and herds. Man, being
gard's blood to flame;
a social animal, naturally early congregated
Lest, when our latest hope i 4 fled, ye taste of
p our despair,
in communities, in which some patriarch-|And learn by proof, in some wild hour, how
the head of a numerous family or one se- much the wretched dare."




In the luxury and vice of the most | spirit of Socialism to-day than John
splendid period of the Roman Empire we Brown's raid of the sentiment of abolition
discover the causes of her decline in the or the “Messiah craze of Christianity. It
corruption of her citizens, so that it has ought not to be necessary to disabuse the
been truly said, "in the sun burst of minds of an intelligent audience at this
Rome's glory were ripening the seeds of day of the accusations brought against
her decay." Of some of the early republics some of the early Socialists, of adyocating
one of our poets has written:
community of goods and community of
“There were communities, scarce known by wives. Against this the disciples of Saint-
name
Simon, the earliest apostle of pure Social-
In these degenerate days, but once far-famed, Tism in France, defended themselves in a
Where liberty and justice, hand in hand,
statement published as early as 1830, in
Ordered the commonweal; where great men
which they distinctly announce that they
grew
Up to their natural eminence, and none
reject the system of community of goods,
Saving the wise, just, eloquent, were great; for this would be a manifest violation of
Where power was of God's gift to whom he gave the first of all the moral laws which it is
Supremacy of merit-the sole means
their mission to teach, viz: that in the
And broad highway to power, that ever then
future each one should rank according to
Was meritoriously administered,
While all its instruments, from first to last,
his capacity and be rewarded according to
The tools of state for service high or low,
| his works. In regard to woman they de-
Were chosen for their aptness to those ends clare: “Christianity has released woman
Which virtue meditates.”
from servitude, but has condemned her to
The cause of the decline of these states is religious, political and civil inferiority.
a fruitful subject for the speculation of the The Saint-Simonians have announced her
student and the philosopher and the emancipation, but they have not abolished
thoughtful consideration of the statesman. the sacred law of marriage proclaimed by
It is not my purpose in this paper to trace Christianity. On the contrary they have
the progress of these changes. It is enough given a new sanctity to this law. Like the
to say that it is the philosophy of history Christians they demand that one man shall
that from the wreck and ruin of the em- be married to one woman, but they teach
pires of the past haye been evolved the that the wife ought to be the equal of her
higher forms of government, and in a di- husband, and that in accordance with the
vinely implanted principle of discontent peculiar grace given to her sex by the Crea-
with present conditions is the prophecy tor, she ought to be associated with him in
of hunian progress. In considering politi the triple function of temple, state and
cal theories, however, we should bear in family, in such a manner that the social in-
mind that we are come upon a time to dividual, which has hitherto been man
which history can show no parallel, which alone, should hereafter be man and
presents economic problems under condi- woman."
tions new to the experience of humanity. Edward Bellamy derived much of the
The subject to which I more especially inspiration of the scheme of Nationalism
desire to direct your attention this evening from the system of Saint Simon, and of
is political and social movement of mod. woman's position under Nationalism, so
ern times. While the principles which distinguished a champion of her sex as
uncierly Socialism are as old as civilization Frances E. Willard writes: “As a worker
itself, their application to political methods in the difficult reform which has social vir-
is of comparatively recent date. The word tue as its outcome, I have been driven to
Socialism was first introduced into econ-believe that the core of Edward Bellamy's
omic discussion in a work published by L. plan, which is the industrial disenthrall-
Reybund in 1840. Since then it has been ment of woman, is tbe way out of the wild-
used by many writers and with widely dif- erness for woman, and through her for
ferent meanings. Exact definition is es. man.!'
sential to intelligent discussion and in the Richard T. Ely in his “French and Ger-
consideration of Socialism it will be well to man Socialism in Modern Times'' says:
have its meaning clearly understood that “Socialism, strictly speaking, denotes the
we may not drift from the topic. The social system. It is the opposite of individ-
term Socialism has been subject to much ualism. A Socialist is one who looks to
misconception, and in the popular mind it society organized in the state for aid in
has been identified or confounded with va- | bringing about a more perfect distribution
rious forms of Communism and extreme of economic goods and an elevation of hu-
revolutionary political theories, or the vis-manity. * * * While the Socialist as-
ionary schemes of religious enthusiasts. As cribes to the state numerous functions, the
a great movement in human society it has individualist admonishes the government
had various expositions under different to do as little as possible. To the one the
social and political conditions and by differ- state is a necessary good, to the other a
ent advocates, but the transitory pbases of necessary evil. But Socialism is also used
its manifestation and the ephemeral vapor- in a popular sense which makes it nearly
ing of yisionary enthusiasts are no more to equivalent to Communism, although the
be regarded as representative of the true two ought to be distinguished. The central




idea of Communism is economic equality. | Egyptians reserved the mysteries of their
It is desired by Communists that all ranks ancient faith ard the science of that age as
and differences in society should disappear its exclusive prerogative, and Popes and
and one man be as good as another, to use ecclesiastical hierarchies, whatever their
the popular phrase. The distinctive idea of creed, have asserted an absolute domain in
Socialisin is distributive justice. It goes things spiritual. It has been the motive of
back of the processes of modern life to the the aristocracy and the plutocracy of all
fact that he who does not work lives on the times in aggregating to themselves super-
labor of others. It aims to distribute econ- ior political rights. It has persecuted
omic goods according to the services ren- those who dared to oppose its dictates in
dêied by the recipients. Thus we see that religion, science or government. It was
the word Socialist is the most inclusive. the inspiration of Saul of Tarsus, of Leo
Every Communist is a Socialist, but not the Tenth, of George III. It set task-
every Socialist is a Communist. We might masters Over the children of Israel; sold
call a Communist an extreme Socialist and serfs as chattels with the soil; enslaved in
thus include under Socialists both Socialists America three millions of black men, and
and Communists, though it is best to make would to-day reduce to a condition of sery.
the distinction. We could not include So.itude millions of the wage earners of the
cialists under Communists."
world.
one of the clearest and most i Individualism is not to be utterly con-
comprehensive definitions of Socialism is demned, nor is it likely that it will ever
to be found in an article by Clemens Peter- be entirely eradicated, but absolute individ-
sen in Johnson's Encyclopedia. This ualism must be checked by a sense of re-
writer says: “Socialism holds an interme sponsibility, and this is the spirit of Chris-
diate position between pure Communism tianity as taught by the Carpenter of Naza-
and simple co-operation. Unlike Commu- reth, which illuminates the sermon on the
nism it dees not advocate the absolute abo | mount and characterizes the new com-
lition of property, but aims simply at a mandment which arends the decalogue of
more just and equitable distribution of it. Mt. Sinai, “that ye love one another." It
Every man according to his capacity and is the divine law by which all men shall be
every capacity according to its work,' is the tried when the Great Judge shall say, “in-
great maxim laid down by Saint Simon, asmuch as ye did it to the least of these
and to carry out in its reality this maxim my brethren, ye did it unto me.”
is the goal of all Socialistic movements. On An eminent and philosophical historian
the other hand it does not confine itself, says: "The prelates of the fifteenth cen-
like co-operation, to a mere regulation of tury, and Cardinal Bembo among the rest,
the relations between capital and labor, re-i no more foresaw Luther and Calvin than
stricting or even excluding competition, the courtiers of Louis XIV foresaw the
transferring the profit from capital to la French revolution.” It may be that there
bor, etc., but attempts a complete recon- are those who are equally blind to the great
struction of society. With the ideas of co- reactionary movement in the economic
operation for its basis of operation, it ap- i system of our own time.
proaches Communism partly by extending As the reformation of Martin Luther
the compass of these ideas, but chiefly by brought about freedom of conscience and
employing them as means to a moral end. the American and the French revolutions.
Communism is a religious tenet, co-opera-made political liberty possible throughout
tion an economical scheme, Socialism a the world, so Socialism seeks to establish
moral reform. It is the vices of mankind economic justice by destroying special privi-
and the miseries resulting from these vices, lege, affording equal opportunity, so far as
to which Socialism wishes to put an end, possible in the struggle for existence, and
and it seeks its means not in a new religious extending the spirit of common humanity.
issue, but in a new social organization, In the consideration of the comparative
hence its name.'
merits of the two systems the one which
The vice of selfishness and self seeking makes pre-eminent the individual, allow-
is one of the evils which Socialism seeks to ling him the largest freedom of action and
remedy. It is a vice born of the nature of the other which magnifies the function of
man that has not yet been eradicated in the State, let us listen to the language of M.
the evolution of the race from that savage Guizot, Minister of Public Instruction of
state where self preservation was the first France, in his lectures upon the history of
law and the survival of the fittest the pre- civilization. He says: “It is upon the in-
vailing principle. It was voiced by the tellectual state of man that the visible
fratricidal Cain in the reply, "am I my form of society depends. * * * Where
brother's keeper?' This imperious indi- individualism reigns nearly absolute,
vidualism has asserted itself through | wherever man considers but himself,
every stage of the development of human wherever he yields obedience only to his
society, blocking the wheels of progress, own passions, there society-that is to say,
combatting every effort for freedom of society in any way permanent-becomes
thought and political liberty. It was the almost impossible." Again the same au-
spirit in which the priestcraft of the early 'thority declares: “The progress of society



161


consists pre-eminently in substituting, on York City is 41 cents, which makes the cost
tbe one hand, public authority for private of living thirty-five years $5138, but in New
will; and on the other, legal resistance for York the cost of living is probably above
individual resistance. This is the great the average throughout the United States.
end, the chief perfection of social order; Perhaps $5000 is a fair estimate and I am
a large field is left for personal liberty but informed that in some States this is fixed as
when personal liberty offends when it be- the limit of the amount which a widow or
comes necessary to call it to account, our the dependents of a person killed may re-
only appeal is to public reason; public rea-cover from a corporation liable for his
son is placed in the judge's chair to pass death. Judging from recent verdicts in
sentence upon the charge which is pre- our courts this is a higher valuation than
ferred against personal liberty. Such is some juries set upon human life. Upon
the system of legal order and of legal resist- this basis the $15,125,000 distributed in prof-
·ance."
its in one year by twelve corporations in
The existing economic system is arraigned Pittsburg represents the subsistence for
before the bar of public reason for violating life of 3025 human beings.
the spirit of humanity; for conspiring Multiply this by a hundred cities and re-
against the stability of Republican govern- peat it through one generation and the re-
ment in fostering class distinctions, special | sult of the computation is appalling.
privileges and so-called "vested rights" by ! There is a suggestion of something radi-
which the few are permitted to lay tribute cally wrong in a system which enabled the
upon the many through a monopoly of the Duke of Bedford, who has just died one of
gifts of nature, the common heritage of hu. the richest men of Great Britain, to enjoy
manity; by absorbing through an unjust an income which some years ago he ad-
system of distribution of the increment of Imitted to be equivalent to $1,500,000 a year,
capital, labor and natural resources, the lof whom a recent observer of events in
Jion's share of the wealth produced; by London wrote: “He was an eccentric man
seeking to lower the social condition of the land a mean man. He stood for years in
masses of the people, upon whose intelli-
the way of local improvements and was
gence the stability of society depends. recognized as the bitterest foe to the prog-
Many thoughtful students of political ress which London is beginning to feel is
economy are coming to the conclusion that necessary to her salvation." His heir and
the monopolists and not the Socialists are the successor, Lord Tavistock, is described as a
dangerous class in the republic to-day. narrow minded individual, purse proud,
It is not strange that there are loud mur-
selfish and egotistical to the degree of ab-
murings of discontent at an economic sys-
surdity. Yet this kind of creature is per-
tem which enabled in 1890 twelve leading
mitted to have the disposal every year of
iron and steel firms of Pittsburg, according
the means whereby 300 of his fellow beings
to a reliable trade review of that city, to
I might be maintained during their natural
lives and that, tov, in a city where one per-
distribute $15,125,000 in profits, and two es-
tablishments, in which Andrew Carnegie is
son in thirty is said to live on charity with
the principal owner, to net nearly $5,000,-
a tendency to crime and in a nation of
000. Let us consider for a moment what
I which Lord Derby recently pointed out
these figures mean. By laying aside $10 a
that the population is increasing at the
day a man should live 1000 years to ac-
rate of 400,000 a year and said: "Neither
cumulate in round numbers $3,500,000,
British manufactures nor British agricul.
which is probably less than Mr.' Carnegie's
ture can supply work and sustenance for
individual profits in one year. Economists
such an increment and relief must come in
place the point of independence at $12 per
immigration.'
week, at which it is believed a family may
"When we read on the same day that a
be supported and leave a margin. The av.shivering child stood at the door of a great
erage duration of life in Europe is stated in manufacturing establishment with only a
the Encyclopedia Brittanica to be thirty slice of mouldy mush in its little dinner
four years and in the United States it is bucket to sustain it during a day of toil; and
probably somewhat in excess of this limit. a wealthy sport who never knew what it is to
Upon this basis the monetary representa-earn an honest dollar paid $10,000 for a dog,
tion of the life subsistence of a family may is it to be wondered at that Socialism is
be stated at $21,840, or in round numbers spreading in this country as well as in Eu-
$22,000. The average family is usually cal- | rope ?
culated at five but under the present social It is not possible in a brief paper to
system this is probably a liberal estimate. speak of the progress of the Socialistic
Dividing the cost of maintenance of the movement, but the most casual observer
family by the number of persons we have cannot mistake the tendency of political
$4400 as the average absolute cost of the thought in this direction. Professor A.
subsistence of an individual for life. These Marshall in his new work on Principles of
results from my own calculations I find Economics, Volume 1,' discussing parti-
very nearly confirmed by a statement re- cularly the situation in England says:
cently published that the average cost of "When municipalities are expected to pro-
substitence a day per individual in New vide baths, wash houses and libraries for




[71
the people and when the State is not only movement of the wage earner, however in-
conveying letters and dispatching telegramstimately all classes of society may be inter-
but carrying parcels for the people, and ested in its results. However blind one
when the State and local authorities are not may be to the spread and influence of So-
merely providing schools, but on the eve of cialistic teachings there is little excuse for
enacting, under the auspices of a Conser- cherishing the idea that the wage
yative ministry, that the education in them earner has no cause for dissatisfaction with
shall be gratuitous it is too late to consider bis situation and prospects, or that bis
whether Socialism is or is not desirable. proper duty in life is to imitate the excel-
Socialism is already a fact to be reckoned lent example of the pious shepherd of
with, not a theory to be discussed. Nor is Salisbury plain, wbo derived supreme con-
it easy to see where the movement which tentment from the fact that a kind Provi.
has thus begun can be logically ar-dence had vouebsafed bim salt to eat with
rested."
| his potatoes. Since the French revolution
It is impossible to take up a leading jour- of 1793 there has been a steady and of late
nal, magazine or review without noticing a rapid growth in tbe Socialistic movement.
discussions upon Socialistic questions. The More general education, a free press, and
remarkable demand for literature upon the organization for resistance or aggression
topic of Socialistic reforms is evidenced by have been the agencies by which the work.
the sale of edition after edition of "Progress ing classes have gained clearer ideas of their
and Poverty," “Looking Backward,” Gron-powers and opportunities. The dull de-
lund's "Co-operative Commonwealth,” and spair of medieval servitude has given place
similar works; the space given to articles to an intelligent and profound discontent
upon these questions in such periodicals as with a situation which every year seems to
the Century, Arena, Forum, North American make more and more hopeless. Blind
Review, and the establisbing of the New Na- Samson stands chained but if he shall bend
tion by Edward Bellamy for the discussion himself upon the pillars against which be
of Nationalism, a movement that in itself is leans in sullen silence the whole structure
deeply significant. 'The Farmers' Alliance, of society will come crashing to the ground
which has become an important factor in and nothing will restrain his purpose
American politics, presents another inter- should the mood seize him, even though
esting phase of the same question and is an that be destroys must invariably fall upon
organization strongly Socialistic in its ten- and crush bin,
dencies. The powerful organizations of It is fortunate for those who have what
labor are but an extension of the principie tbey are pleased to consider svested
of Socialism and embody the maxim an in-rights" that labor has not yet found an an-
justice to the weakest is an injury to the swer to its own question. Socialism, using
wbole.
the term comprehensively, bas thus far
In a note in the Arena of February, 1891. represented many and widely different par-
under the head of "Deplorable Social Con- poses, immediate and ultimate, often at
ditions we read: "Social problems are variance one with another. When its
assuming great proportions. The relations forces sball focalize upon one idea, we may
existing between capital and labor are daily be certain ihat, right or wrong, that idea
growing more strained. The stream of will for the time being uominate human
misery grows broader as colossal fortunes thought and action. When it shall direct
rise skyward. The poverty in all our great its energies at the attainment of a fixed
centers of civilization as well as throughout purpose, practicable or impracticable, it
the landlord and mortgage-cursed frontiers will move with relentless power."
is, year by year, growing more terrible and Happily for humanity we live in an age
more general. There have been 2650 fore- when political revolution is possible by
closures of farm mortgages in Kansas dur- peaceful means. When the people hold in
ing the past six months. In the city of their own hands theremedy for tbe wrongs
New York there are over 150,000 people which exist and the greater evils which are
who earn less than sixty cents a day. threatened through the ballot which as vet,
Thousands of this number are poor girls thank God, every citizen is free to exercise
who work from eleyen to sixteen hours a unawed by federal interference or corpora-
day. Last year there were over 23,000 fam- tion espionage.
ilies forcibly ejected in that city, owing to It remains with the voters of this nation
their inability to pay their rent. One per- to determine whether the government shall
son in every ten who died in New York in be administered for the many or the few;
1889 was buried in the potters' field. These whether special privileges shall be fostered
are facts which may give rise 10 anxious and corporations, trusts and monopolies
thoughts.” The words I quote are not licensed to tax the industrial masses and
from a Socialistic organ but are the sober reap the profits due the producers, or an
editorial utterances of a leading review equitable system of distribution devised
published in conservatiye Boston--the upon the basis of co-operation throngh the
"Cradle of Liberty."
I enlarged function of the State.
In a recent address a lecturer of Cornell Freemen who are worthy of their birth-
College said: "Socialism is essentially a right must maintain the principle promul-



[8]
gated in the preamble to the Constitution and government supervision of private
that this Government was instituted "to schools; the extension of governmental
establish justice” and “to promote the control over railroads, telegraph and ex-
general welfare."
press business and corporations, furnish-
Will the manhood of this nation assert ers of light, water and heat, preparatory to
itself, cast off the scales of blind party prej- municipal ownership or nationalization of
udice and demand these reforms, or sink- these enterprises.
ing into servility suffer corporations to con Mr. Bellamy enumerates the first five
tinue to control legislation by the corrun- steps toward nationalization to be:
tion of voters? The spirit of a patriotic First. Government operation of telegraph
people is easily aroused when any overt service.
act is committed against the flag or the Second. An extension of the present
dignity of the nation assailed, but citizens postoffice business by the establishment of
of republics are sometimes slow to resist the a parcel express service.
insidious attack of enemies within, who Third. National assumption of control
would subvert their liberties and poison the over the railroads of the country.
springs of patriotic impulse. The republics Fourth, Government control of coal
of antiquity did not fall from enemies with mines; municipal supply of light, heat,
out until they had been weakened by cor- water, means of transit, etc..
ruption within.
Fifth, Compulsory public education of
“For what more oft in nations grown corrupt, children up to the age of seventeen.
And by their vices brought to servitude,
However we may question the expedi-
Than to love bondage more than liberty;
ency of some of these measures it must be
Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty."
admitted that the object of the advocates of
Conscious that they are born for a higher Socialism is the amelioration of the condi-
destiny than drudgery and an incessant tion of mankind by replacing the evils of
struggle from the cradle to the grave for
tbe present competitive system by a co-
mere existence, the mass of mankind will operative civilization. The ideal of co-op-
not submit much longer to an industrial
eration has been well defined as “the vol-
system so manifestly founded in injustice. untary, conscious participation of each sep-
A wise statesmanship should seek to reme-l arate element of society in preparing,
dy these inequalities in the economic sys-
maintaining and increasing the general
tem and avert any conflict of the classes well-being, material, intellectual and emo-
and the masses.
tional."
It is asked what remedy Socialism pro- To reiterate in conclusion, Socialism
poses for the evils complained of. It pre- demands that the principle of representa-
scribes no sudden, Violent changes, its tive government embodied in the free bal-
reforms are reasonable and moderate. The lot in which the voter shall be secure from
demands of the German Socialists as ex-surveillance or intimidation shall be main-
pressed in their platform are for extension tained. As the highest citizenship demands
of the right of suffrage and a secret ballot; intelligence to judge and independence to
free high schools for the children of the act, it demands the perpetuation of the free
working classes; laws regulating the hours system of public education, but that all
of labor and the employment of women may have the opportunity to avail them-
and children in factories; a decrease of the selves of its advantages, Socialisni de-
standing army; a readjustment of the mands and its supreme contention is the
burdens of taxation by a graded income establishment of an economic system under
tax.
which there shall be such an equitable
The organization of Christian Socialists distribution of the proceeds of the aggre-
in this country advocates the preservation gated productive agencies of the nation
of a free ballot by the adoption of the Aus- that every man shall have the leisure and
tralian electoral system in its original form; the means to qualify himself for the obli-
State and municipal boards of relief for the gations of citizenship and for the complete
unemployed, so that they may be made development of all the faculties of his be-
self-sustaining and every man willing to ing, that he may discharge his highest
work shall have the opportunity; concen- duties to himself, his country and his God.
tration of taxation upon the rental value Then shall we be able to answer by exam-
of lands, mines and natural resources, espe-l ple:
cially land held for speculation, that all
“What constitutes a State!
mines hereafter opened shall be the prop-! Men who their duty know,
erty of the Government; the enforcement But know their rights, and knowing, dare main-
of eight hours as a day's labor; a Saturday tain;
half holiday and a Sunday rest for all; the | And sovereign law, that State's collected will
enfranchisement of women: the suppres. | O'er thrones and globes elate
sion of the saloon: free technical education | Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill,